ROCKINGHAM — Ten days before his 21st birthday, student organizer Dylan Frick became the top Democrat in a dozen North Carolina counties.
Delegates to Saturday’s 8th Congressional District Democratic Convention elected Frick as chairman for a two-year term ending in 2017. The Stanly County man is the grandson of Norwood Mayor Beverly Johnson and was volunteer coordinator for former state Sen. Gene McLaurin’s 2012 campaign.
“The Democratic Party is the last hope that people have,” Frick said in an energized speech after his nomination.
He presented a four-point plan that includes holding fundraisers in all 12 counties and working to recruit and select competitive candidates for U.S. House and other offices.
Frick served as president of the College Democrats at UNC Greensboro, where he is studying for a bachelor’s degree in political science and government.
April Bundy of Union County was also nominated as district chair. After Frick won the vote, she was nominated and elected as first vice chair.
Paul Irving of Cabarrus County will serve as second vice chair and Caroline Sumter of Robeson County won election as third vice chair.
Preston Waddell of Richmond County, who is principal of Anson County Early College, will serve as the district treasurer from 2015-17. Navonne Moore will continue in her role as secretary.
Hosting the convention for the second year in a row at the Richmond County Judicial Center, Richmond fielded 26 of 30 registered delegates in attendance.
Other counties represented were Union (16), Stanly (8), Cabarrus (7), Robeson (7), Davidson (5), Scotland (4), Montgomery (4), Anson (3), Mecklenburg (2), Rowan (2) and Randolph (1). Attendees cast weighted votes representing the full number of delegates elected from each county.
Outgoing district treasurer Douglas McMillan said the party’s finances should be back on track when the State Board of Elections waives a $500 fine for financial reports that were not filed on time. McMillan filed past-due reports for the district after the former treasurer stepped down.
“I inherited this,” he said, “and in inheriting, I tried to fix what was broken.”
Little read letters to convention delegates from state party Chairwoman Patsy Keever, Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and McLaurin, the former state senator and Rockingham mayor.
Speakers at the four-hour convention encouraged Democrats to start work for the 2016 campaign and retake control of the General Assembly from Republicans who now hold majorities in both chambers.
Veleria Levy, N.C. Democratic Party second vice chairwoman, said she found common ground with a Republican friend on health insurance by discussing specific policy points and avoiding loaded labels like Obamacare.
“We’re in red counties,” Levy said. “Focus on issues and people will tend to stick with you on issues.”